From Texas to New Jersey, the Knights are casting a wider net to flip elite prospects and secure immediate contributors from talent-rich regions across the country.
The UCF Knights have dipped their toes into out-of-state recruiting, as high school recruits have warmed up to the idea of playing for programs away from home.
Coach Scott Frost has witnessed the shift in recruiting. While in-state recruiting is still crucial to team building, spending resources to recruit talented athletes from other states has become equally important.
There is an abundance of talent across the nation, regardless of star ratings on recruiting sites. These players want an opportunity to showcase their skills at the next level, and UCF is willing to extend those opportunities.
"It's hard to cast your net so wide that you look under every rock and every corner for players," Frost told reporters at Big 12 media day. "But we're going to be willing to go anywhere in the country, including Texas, to get players. And I know Orlando is a really awesome place, and kids are going to want to be there."
UCF has had some luck gaining commitments from out-of-state 2027 recruits. Tight end Tanner Ehmen (Alabama), defensive back Jonathan Barnes (Texas) and linebacker Ian McDuffie (New Jersey) joined the Knights' 2027 recruiting class over the last several weeks.
Out of the trio, McDuffie stands out the most. The Knights were able to flip his commitment from Syracuse, a program only five hours away from home.
Flipping McDuffie is a testament to the success Frost believed the program would have when recruiting out-of-state talent. UCF is willing to look under every rock, not only in Florida but also in other states, too.
There has also been out-of-state recruiting success in the previous class. Nine players of the incoming freshman class are from other states. Quarterbacks Rocco Marriott (Missouri), Dante Carr (Pennsylvania) and EDGE Alhassan Iddrissu (Connecticut) are some of the notable out-of-state recruits from the 2026 recruiting class.
The Knights' pursuit of high school athletes in other states highlights their interest in receiving a commitment. They are using resources to connect with the recruit in their home state and believe they can contribute to the program right away.
"If we're going to invest some of our resources from a money standpoint in high school kids, then we expect those kids to come in and play," Frost told reporters on National Signing Day on Dec. 3. "And there are a few of those that I think have a chance to come in and help the team right away."
National Signing Day is several months away for the 2027 recruiting class, but UCF is still chipping away at recruiting. Frost and his staff left lasting impressions during their official visit periods.
UCF's willingness to expand its recruiting efforts out of state is crucial to finding hidden gems and building a competitive team yearly.
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